Misguided Spirits Distillery

Just outside Parksville on the Alberni Highway, Misguided Spirits is a boutique craft distillery turning BC grain into small-batch spirits with a bartender's sensibility. Built by and for the people who actually mix drinks, the lineup runs from smooth vodkas and aromatic gins to rich whiskies, with rums, tequila-style spirits and triple sec rounding out a range designed to shine behind the bar. Everything is handmade in small quantities, and the focus on quality grain and careful distilling shows in the glass. The experience here is refreshingly intimate. The tasting room is nestled right inside the working distillery – a cozy space that seats around a dozen guests with standing room for a few more – so a visit feels less like a stop on a tour and more like being welcomed into the workshop. Drop in to taste through the range, pick up bottles straight from the source, and chat with the team about how each spirit is built; visitors regularly praise the warm, informative welcome and the genuine enthusiasm behind the bar. Open most days through the week, Misguided sits just minutes from the famously photogenic Goats on the Roof, making it an easy and fun addition to a day exploring the Parksville and Qualicum Beach area. The central-Island location also makes it a natural pairing with the region's beaches, parks and other craft-beverage stops. Whether you're a cocktail enthusiast hunting for a new base spirit or simply curious to see a small distillery at work, this is a friendly, personal place to taste local craft. Check current tasting-room hours before you go, then settle in for a relaxed sip-and-chat with the makers.